There are two top-notch hotels on Lake Como: Villa d'Este and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Both offer stunning views, Michelin star restaurants and all the indulgent pampering you could desire.

A stay on Lake Como offers the promise of perfect summer days. The deep blue lake is fed by glacial water from the Alps, and despite the summer sun, there's a cool breeze. The Italians speak of the "dolce far niente," the sweetness of doing nothing.

On Lake Como, your biggest challenge is deciding which enticing restaurant to dine at, or which beautiful spot you'll explore next. You must take a launch to Villa Balbianello, a Renaissance palace on its own tiny island, which has appeared in the movies "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones," and "Casino Royale." Dinners are magical in the evening, with moonlight reflecting on the lake.